Clutch Clarendon leads Cal to Final Four

Perhaps because the Golden Bears have played in the shadow of rival Stanford and its star, Chiney Ogwumike, what Clarendon did this season may have been missed. She has started all but nine games in her California career, including every game the past three seasons.

But the Cardinal are nowhere to be found, and it's the Bears that will get the national stage at the Final Four.

It's the perfect cap for Clarendon's career. She was recruited by former coach Joanne Boyle and was an important bridge in keeping Cal together when Boyle left for Virginia and Gottlieb, a former assistant for the Golden Bears, was hired as her replacement.

Gottlieb's goal has been to build Cal into a program that can challenge Stanford for Pac-12 supremacy on a consistent basis. For at least this year, Cal can claim that title and it's largely because of what Clarendon has done.

"That kid is something special and if there was any doubt that she was an All American, I think tonight kind of seals that," Gottlieb said.